A stretcher is brought from a private ambulance into the block of flats where the nurse Jacintha Saldanha lived near the King Edward VII Hospital in central London December 7, 2012. A female nurse who took a prank call at the London hospital that treated Prince William's pregnant wife Kate for morning sickness has been found dead, the hospital said on Friday. (Olivia Harris/REUTERS)

A stretcher is brought from a private ambulance into the block of flats where the nurse Jacintha Saldanha lived near the King Edward VII Hospital in central London December 7, 2012. A female nurse who took a prank call at the London hospital that treated Prince William's pregnant wife Kate for morning sickness has been found dead, the hospital said on Friday.(Olivia Harris/REUTERS)

A nurse who fell for DJs prank-calling Kate Middleton’s hospital has died in
what is reportedly a suicide.

The hospital at which Kate Middleton was being treated for morning sickness
related to her pregnancy said that the “well-respected” nurse, Jacintha
Saldanha, had worked there for more than four years.

“It is with very deep sadness that that we confirm the tragic death of a
member of our nursing staff,” London’s King Edward VII Hospital, a
posh private-care centre, said in a statement. “We can confirm that Jacintha was
recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been
supporting her throughout that difficult time.”

In a statement put out by the palace, the Duchess of Cambridge and her
husband Prince William said they were “deeply saddened” to learn the news.

“Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by
everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with
Jacintha Saldanha’s family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time.”

The radio station said that the DJs were deeply shocked and would be off the
air temporarily “out of respect.”

British media reported earlier Friday that the woman later revealed to be Ms.
Saldanha was found unconscious this morning at an address in central London. She
could not be revived.

The London paper The Sun reported that the death was unexplained but
headlined the story
for online searches as “Tragedy as woman who answered Kate hoax commits
suicide." The Daily Mail, another prominent British tabloid, said she was found
close to the hospital at which the Duchess of Cambridge was staying until
Thursday and that two ambulances were dispatched.

“Paramedics were unable to revive her and she was pronounced dead at the
scene,” the paper
reported. “Officers from Scotland
Yard ... are treating the death as ‘unexplained’. The exact cause of death
remained unclear. However, one source indicated that the woman appeared to have
killed herself.”

The woman unwittingly played a role in a radio stunt on Tuesday when two
Australian disc-jockeys phoned the hospital. Ms. Saldanha answered and
one of the callers, putting on a hokey accent, asked for “Kate ... my
grand-daughter,” the implication being that she was the Queen.

A moment later the DJs were on hold, snickering that they seemed to be
getting away with it. The call was picked up by another woman who relayed
routine but confidential information about the duchess’s status.

The
prank garnered worldwide headlines and the duo later apologized, saying the
idea had been a lark they didn’t imagine would succeed. The radio station said in a statement that
the DJs "have decided that they will not return to their radio show until
further notice out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy."

Earlier Friday, before news of the death had emerged, one DJ was still
boasting on Twitter about the attention the stunt had received. “Our #RoyalPrank
was even on the in-flight news,” he gloated. "It’s everywhere!!”

The DJ, Michael Christian, had earlier tweeted a link to an article in which
Prince Charles joked
about the hoax."

Twitter accounts for both DJs appeared to have been deleted Friday after Ms.
Saldanha’s death became known.